By Victoria, Somatic and Mindfulness Coach and Co-Founder of Healing Arts Center
Thank You for Making Time for Yourself
I want to thank every person who walks through our doors at Healing Arts Center. The love and care you bring with you shape this community, and today we celebrate you.
Making time for yourself is harder than it sounds. Between work, family, appointments, and everyone who needs something from you, your own needs tend to slide to the bottom of the list. Each time you book a session, sign up for a class, or take an hour to breathe, you are choosing to put yourself back on that list. We see that choice, and we are grateful you made it here.
What Your Children Learn From Watching You
Children learn far more from what we do than from what we tell them. They notice how we speak to ourselves when we make a mistake, whether we rest when we are tired, and whether we ask for help when we need it.
When your children watch you take care of yourself, they learn that their own needs matter too. They see that a parent can love their family and still say, "I need a little time for me." They see that rest is something everyone deserves, and that asking for support is a normal part of life.
For me, taking care of myself was how I learned to take better care of my daughter. The time I gave myself came back to her as more patience, more presence, and more room to listen. Every session you book shows the people you love that caring for your well-being gives you more to offer them.
Self-Care Is a Daily Practice
Self-care is often sold as something you buy, such as a spa day, a candle, or a weekend away. Those things can feel wonderful, and there is nothing wrong with enjoying them. The kind of self-care we practice at Healing Arts Center happens in smaller moments throughout the day.
It looks like speaking up when something does not feel right. It looks like noticing when you are hungry, tense, or overwhelmed, and responding to yourself with the same kindness you would offer your child. We think of self-care as daily self-advocacy, and like any skill, it gets easier with practice.
The Push and Pull of Self-Care
In sessions, we approach our thresholds knowing we are capable of moving through them. We explore our edges, stretch our limits, and learn to trust ourselves along the way. Together we work toward growth and progress, while also making room for the present moment and the ease that stillness can bring.
Many of us have long lists of responsibilities, along with projects and people who rely on our generosity. Through practice, we learn to pause, notice what we need, and find balance between giving and receiving.
Finding that balance takes practice. It asks us to listen to our bodies, trust our intuition, and pay attention to what our hearts already know. Life moves in rhythms, and the more we work with them, the less energy we spend fighting what comes.
Why Receiving Can Feel So Hard
Many of the parents and caregivers I work with are natural givers. They remember birthdays, organize the carpool, and check on everyone else first. Giving is a beautiful part of who they are.
Receiving is often the harder half of the exchange. Accepting a compliment, letting a friend bring dinner, or resting before every task is finished can feel uncomfortable, even selfish. Many people learned early on that their worth came from what they did for others, so being on the receiving end feels unfamiliar.
Receiving is a skill, and it can be learned at any age. It might start with saying "thank you" instead of brushing off a kind word. It might mean letting your partner handle bedtime without stepping in to fix it. It might mean booking a session where nothing is asked of you except to receive.
Making Room for Both Giving and Receiving
When giving and receiving fall out of balance, it shows up in our lives. We may feel drained, short-tempered, or resentful toward the very people we love most. These feelings are useful information. They let us know that our own needs have gone unmet for too long.
A balanced life does not mean giving less love to your family. It means letting love move in both directions, so you have something left to give. When you allow yourself to receive care, support, and rest, you refill what your daily life asks of you.
Knowing When to Push and When to Pull Back
As we continue to practice, may we find this balance within ourselves. May we learn when to push forward, when to pull back, and how to meet the changes in our lives with grace.
Book a Session With Me
If you are ready to make more room for yourself, I would love to work with you. In my sessions, we slow down and pay attention to what your body is telling you, so you can recognize what you need and give yourself the care you so freely give to others. I offer somatic and mindfulness coaching, trauma-informed Reiki, and breathwork at Healing Arts Center in Virginia Beach.
You can book a session with me at vagaro.com/healingartscenter. As co-founders, my business partner and I also offer a sliding scale for veterans, active duty service members, first responders, and their family members.
About the Author
Victoria is a somatic and mindfulness coach and co-founder of Healing Arts Center in Virginia Beach, with more than fifteen years of practice. Her training includes neurosomatic and somatic coaching, mindfulness coaching, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), trauma-informed breathwork, trauma-sensitive meditation, yoga nidra, vagal toning, integrative somatic parts work, Reiki and trauma-informed Reiki, and medical hypnotherapy, along with a bachelor's degree in education. She works with everyone and has a particular heart for people who have spent their lives taking care of others first. She teaches clients the importance of creating space for self-compassion by tuning into what the body is communicating.
About Healing Arts Center
Healing Arts Center is a veteran-owned collaborative in Virginia Beach bringing together practitioners who understand the body and mind connection. Our practitioners offer Reiki, somatic and mindfulness coaching, breathwork, meditation, sound, massage, and counseling with a licensed professional counselor. Each practitioner designs every session for the person in front of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does self-care matter for parents?
Parents who make time to care for themselves often have more patience and energy for their families. Children also learn by watching how the adults around them treat themselves, so your self-care teaches them to value their own needs.
Why is it hard for some people to receive help?
Many people learned early on that their value came from taking care of others. Accepting help, rest, or kindness can feel uncomfortable when you are used to being the one who gives. With practice, receiving becomes more familiar.
How do I book a session with Victoria?
You can book a somatic and mindfulness coaching, Reiki, or breathwork session with Victoria at vagaro.com/healingartscenter.
Where is Healing Arts Center located?
Healing Arts Center is at 4652 Haygood Rd A, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. You can also reach the office at (757) 251-9301 or info@healingartsvb.com.
